The Buckeye Blog

Oh…Now this changes everything!!!

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting this morning that Big Ten officials are admitting that a blown fumble call in the 2007 Ohio State/Illinois game should have been called a fumble. As you can see in the video above, the ball was recovered by Ohio State in the end zone for what would have been touchback and most likely preventing an Illinois touchdown.

According to the Dispatch, the officiating team had struggled the week before in a Purdue game and it was later revealed that the head referee had a “history of bankruptcy, casino gambling, child abuse and allegations of sexual harassment.” Not that any of that would affect your ability to officiate a game. Let’s just say he probably won’t be back this season.

While I had actually manage to force this painful memory to the deep recesses of my memory, let’s go back and take a look at the impact of this missed call - just for the fun of it.

By the time Illinois lined up for the next play, most of the television audience was screaming for an official review of the call as they could all see that Illinois running back Dan Dufrene basically attempted to lateral the ball as he fell to the ground. No question Tressel should have called for a review but he claimed at the time that he heard there was something wrong with the replay equipment and he didn’t want to waste a challenge that early in the game.

While is was absolutely ridiculous that Illinois found a hole like that and made that type of run, the implications of this blown call are huge. if the fumble was recovered by Ohio State, that would have prevented the Illinois touchdown making the score 7-0, Ohio State. That puts the ball on the 20 and gives the Bucks the opportunity to drive against a frustrated Illinois.

Let’s say the Buckeyes score, and Illinois manages to put another touchdown on the board. That makes it a tie game. Buckeyes either pull ahead or keep it tied preventing the luxury of the slow drive which ate most of the fourth quarter preventing Ohio State from gaining possession. In a game that close, the slow drive wouldn’t have worked, the Buckeyes would have gotten at least one more shot at the ball, pulled themselves together and won the game.

Having beaten Illinois, they head into Michigan full of confidence. Michigan, who was coming off a loss to Wisconsin gets humiliated even more than they did and the Buckeyes head to the BCS Championship undefeated — no questions asked about their number #1 ranking.

With an undefeated season under their belt, they are mentally much better prepared for the game against LSU. Confidence is at a high, no dropped passes in the end zone, no nearly missed blocked kicks and the Buckeyes go on to win the national championship.

Seems simple enough to me.

Oh, and for the SEC trolls bound to find this post, the blown call isn’t that big a deal. Unlike LSU, the Buckeyes will be in the hunt again this year and odds are, we’ll be playing in the BCS Championship for the third year in a row.

Update: In my usual fashion, I originally said that the recovered ball would be a touch back worth two points. Hey, it seemed good at the time. I’ve modified the post to reflect the scenario of ball on 20. Sorry about that.

Second hand thoughts on Media Day so far:

- Media likes the Buckeyes - we swept the awards

- Tressel thinks Michigan game more important than USC

- Rodriguez hasn’t really caught on to the importance of “The Game” yet. He talked about as equal to the Notre Dame game. I’m sure Notre Dame has gained in importance the past few years as that is the game they have the best chance of winning. When you constantly lose to your biggest rivals, it must get frustrating. He said it’s not like he has a countdown clock to The Game or anything. Buckeyes have a countdown clock. He’ll learn or he’ll be out.

- Little Animal was popular

- Not as popular as Kirk Herbstreet

- Note the questions coming from bloggers - next year I’m expecting an invite.

Big Ten Media Day opened yesterday with the media selecting Ohio State as the preseason favorite. No real surprise there but as an added bonus, they picked Beanie Wells as the Big Ten’s preseason offensive player of the year and James Laurinaitis as the preseason defensive player of the year.

What I didn’t realize is that if the Buckeyes do win the Big Ten Championship, they will be the first team in the history of the division to do it three years in a row.

Media representitives gathered for the event picked Wisconsin as number two and Illinois as number three. For the first time since they started tracking these things, Michigan wasn’t picked in the top three.

I haven’t had a chance to go through the coaches opening interviews yet but from what I see so far, i haven’t missed much. Unfortunately, since I haven’t made the leap to full-time blogging (I’m still looking for a sponsor), I’m not actually in Chicago and my media day reports will need to be second hand. I’ll have more over the weekend.

Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez got a little heat about Justin Boren’s defection to the Buckeyes. According to the Toledo Blade, Rodriguez said that Boren’s comment about a loss of family values at Michigan was what hit him the hardest. When asked, Michigan players at the event played it off but face it, just the defection had to be a pretty hard blow.

While the Michigan players did their best to shrug it off, the Blade reported that Kirk Herbstreet pointed out the impact of it coming from a “legacy” player. I don’t think I realized that Boren’s dad played for Bo…wow.

Kirk Herbstreet per the Toledo Blade:

“[Boren] was a legacy guy and when he makes comments like [that], that’s like getting kicked square in the shorts when you’re Rich Rodriguez,” ESPN analyst and former OSU quarterback Kirk Herbstreit said Thursday. “With all the other things that are happening, when you get that comment from a legacy guy, a guy whose dad started three or four years for Bo, all of a sudden everybody’s tentacles go up a little bit.

“But I’m a little concerned right now for Rich. There’s a lot of negative things adding up. They need to start the season and win some games to get some positive stuff going, some mojo going, because it’s not good right now.”

I’ll give Rodriguez that. He definitely needs to get some positive stuff going up there. Not that I’m looking for it or anything — actually, fanning the flames is probably more like it.

It’s so wrong yet I can’t seem to look away.

In a column titled “Blog…Enough With The Buckeyes!!!”, College Football News columnist Barette Sallee offers a preview of what we are up against this year.

And while I don’t really want to give him the honor of my comments, it pretty much outlines what I expect to hear echoed the entire season. No matter how well we do this season, no matter how badly we beat USC, the Buckeyes will need to overcome this sort of sentiment from the BCS voters.

Naturally, while Barrette points out that we travel to USC for what he terms an “early season beatdown” against USC, we only did it six years after the SEC began adding them to the schedule. He fails to forget however, that while his beloved SEC was playing USC, we were taking on a #1 or #2 ranked Texas.

He is right on one account — we’ve blown our last two shots at the BCS and having done so, no matter how bad we rampage through the season, we will have trouble convincing the rest of the world that we belong in the big game.

More than anything, I’m as frustrated by the schedule as anyone. I think the USC series is great. I only wish our other off-season games were as interesting. And yes, I understand the need for in-state charity games, but somebody please tell me how Troy University got on the schedule. (You have to give Troy credit though, they play LSU two weeks before they come to Columbus.)

Until the BCS initiates a playoff series (don’t hold your breath), the off season schedule is the one thing that we will have to go by. Unfortunately, in BCS terms, it doesn’t look much better down the road. In 2009, we’ve got the home game with USC, an opener against Navy and New Mexico State. While the Navy game is interesting, Navy’s got Notre Dame for their old school football fix. After the USC series, we open a two game series with Miami FL. Other games include Marshall and Eastern Michigan. I’m sure that when they scheduled Miami, they were a good team.

A couple of things have to happen for Ohio State to get the respect it deserves. This year, the Buckeyes need to walk through the season unquestioned. They need to put a serious hurt on USC but even that might not be enough. The Big Ten needs another ranked team and I don’t see one on the horizon (Illinois?). Even if the Buckeyes go undefeated and all other BCS contenders come out two-loss teams, it will only be used against us in the way the SEC claims that losing games proves they have a better conference.

Down the road, the Big Ten needs to get better. It used to be that winning a Big Ten championship was enough to put you in the hunt. Unfortunately, the Big Ten has let us down lately. Teams that could be counted on for a good game - Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State, even Michigan - haven’t held up their end of the bargain. Until they do, it’s only going to get worse.

A couple of days ago, I posted the press release I received from ESPN about the big “pep rally” that was held yesterday…on a Thursday…at 10:30 in the morning…when most of the world is at work…and the students are out for summer break. And to be honest, I didn’t really read the press release too close.

Although I wasn’t the first to point it out however, the p.r. dept. at ESPN referred to two-time Heisman winner and president of the Ohio State Alumni Club Archie Griffin as “Archie Griffith.” I’m assuming that this is Andy’s illegitimate son and long lost half brother to Opie.

Those of you who read this know that I’m pretty good at making mistakes of this type myself. That has something to do with the first-draft nature of this blog (write, publish, edit in the morning). It may also have something to do with the fact that way too many of the posts you read here (this one included) are written well after I should be in bed. However, in my day job, I’m in public relations and business writing. Not really the type of mistake I would want to make in my other life.

(Oh, and by the way ESPN, if you’re looking for a good p.r. guy, I can be reached at…)

You can see the original post and press release here.

A post on the Bleacher Report recently ranked the 10 most hated college football teams in the past 25 years. Most of the teams are teams that were disliked because they were good. Personally, I can respect a good team. I usually have much better reasons for my “dislike.”

While the Buckeyes didn’t make it to number one, the writer felt the need to illustrate the post with a little scarlet and gray.

Personally, I’ve got no problem with our number three ranking. When you’re good enough to make it to the BCS Championship three times in five years and you’re in line to do it again, yeah, people are going to get jealous.

It’s also important to note that unlike many teams out there, Ohio State fans understand tradition and rivalry as opposed to some brief moment of shining glory in the national spotlight that will fade away not to return for another 20 years or so. Ohio State will always be a force, even during an off year.

Unlike those who envy however, if you’ve read this blog, you’ve probably noticed my certain…shall we call it distaste…for a handful of college football programs.

Since the Bleacher report did not properly stir my angst, I’d thought I’d present my most ha–I mean “disliked” college programs of the past 25 years. My date ranges may be a little off as I’m going on bitter, painful memories here - not researched fact.

9: Florida State Seminoles - Most of the Bobbie Bowden years but especially the late 80s.

Although Florida State is pretty much harmless these days, it couldn’t come to a better team or coach. However, during their “better” days, it always seemed as though they were running the score against a pansie for the sake of national ranking. Of course, I pretty much felt this way about all the Florida teams back then.

8: Nebraska - Late 80s/early 90s

Not a lot to say here. They were just annoying. This was also during the height of a very frustrating John Copper period so…well don’t make me go there.*

7: The entire SEC for about the past five years

First off, the SEC doesn’t deserve the honor of my ilk. And while the Buckeyes may be the thorn in the side of every SEC fan, they are a flash in the pan. Sooner or later the fallacy of “SEC speed” will be exposed for what it is, the ESPN commentators will be forced to move on and that will be about all we will hear of the SEC as a division. Sure, they’ll always have a couple of teams in the hunt but the myth that they deserve a BCS spot just because they are in the SEC will soon fade.

Meanwhile, Ohio State will always be a force in college football.

6: USC - the Pete Carroll years

This is probably has more to do with my frustration with ESPN and in particular Mark May than anything else. Sure, USC can be good but they can also be overrated. And boy, ESPN and the BCS sure love to over rank them. I am looking forward to the USC/OSU series. They are long over due for a good old Buckeye ass whoopin.

5: Notre Dame - Since Charlie Weis took over

Yeah, Notre Dame has always been annoying but I could tolerate Lou Holtz, and Tyrone Willingham was an interesting coach. However, these days Notre Dame is nothing short of pathetic. Regardless, they’ve given Weis a nice fat (no pun intended) contract and NBC has picked them up for who knows how many more years. This means that I’m going to have to watch Notre Dame get beat by Ball State (o.k. that is game I’d enjoy) instead of a college football game that actually accounted for something.

Not only that but the sweetheart deal they’ve worked with the BCS is disgusting. They can go an entire season without winning a game and they still bring in big bucks from the BCS. Not to mention that if they actually win a game, suddenly they’re contenders for a BCS Bowl game.

I love tradition as much as the next guy but Notre Dame needs to get rid of Weis now and bring this program back to their glory days.

4: Miami - no specific time period - just Miami in general

There aren’t many teams I “disliked” as much as I “disliked” Miami the day after the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. I have never seen such incredibly poor losers and crybabies as I did reading the papers the morning after. The Miami players talked as though Ohio State should never have been on the same field with them even though they got a quick, rude awakening the minute they got the ball. The Buckeye defense hit their offensive line so hard that Miami quarterback had to give his post game interviews from the hospital where he spent the night.

Even more absurd is the way people remember Maurice Clarett’s troubles yet Miami players were constantly trying to postpone legal battles until after the season was over — and Coker was known for looking the other way.

O.K. now I’m getting there. The old angst is alive and well. I’m still using the word “disliked” but I moved into hate on those last two.

3: Michigan - 1969 to 1978

What did you expect? It’s the 10 Year War!!! Even if I’m not old enough to remember all of it, I remember enough. With Bo, we take our hatred to an entirely new level. This is the hatred that I was weaned on. This is the hatred that all Ohio State fans know even if there aren’t old enough remember. They’ve seen the films. They know they story of Woody and Bo. I’m pretty sure it is tested in Ohio as a requirement of The No Child Left Behind Act. This hatred though is filled with respect. I would love to see Michigan find a coach worthy of another 10 year war. Tressel is up for it. Unfortunately, we all know Rodrigeuz isn’t.

2: Michigan - 1995 to 2007

Yeah, I skipped a couple of years in there. Does anyone actually remember Gary Moeller (even though like most Michigan coaches, he was an Ohio State grad)? Let’s jump ahead to the Llllllloyd Carr years. The early part of his tenure was frustrating not because of Michigan but because of Cooper. However, since the dawn of the Tressel era, he, along with the rest of the Michigan football team, was our whipping boy and a good one at that.

We all know that deep down inside, Carr’s biggest fans were in Columbus.

1: Michigan - 2008 to ?

Hey, you’ve dug your own grave Michigan. You sleep in it. There is no question that Rich Rodriguez is going to turn Michigan into one of the most disliked Ohio State fan’s teams. Not because they will be beating Ohio State but because it is doubtful they will be able to provide a worthy opponent for Ohio State. The Ohio State/Michigan game should be the greatest game in college football every year. It is a great rivalry based on tradition and a respectful hatred of your opponent. I want to see an honorable foe lined up across the field from Coach Tressel and his 11 warriors. However, from the way he left West Virginia and what I have seen so far at UM, it looks like he has a long way to go.

So there you have it. Feel free to let me have it. As an Ohio State Fan, who have I missed? Who is on your list? comment below.

* I actually considered putting John Cooper’s Buckeyes on this list. This took some soul searching and I’m still having trouble with it. I realized though that it wasn’t the team I disliked but the way Cooper and his coaching staff, but especially Cooper, would completely break down mentally. There was a time that if the Buckeyes fell behind, there was no hope of them coming back. He couldn’t prepare a team mentally and at that level of play, half the game is 90 percent mental (or something like that Yogi). As I said, some of the memories are just too bitter and painful.

According to Coach, we’ve got the maturity and the talent. Oh yeah, we’ve got Terrell Pryor also.

(a big ht to my friends at the BuckeyeDome)

So what if it’s July. So what if it’s summer session and most of the students have left campus for the summer. Who cares that it’s being held at 10:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning. ESPN has some serious marketing to do and it just can’t wait until football season actually starts.

So with that in mind, I received a press release from the p.r. dept. at ESPN about Columbus’s chances at being named “Title Town USA.” And while we all need a good excuse to get off work once and a while, we don’t need ESPN’s seal of approval.

At the same time, what is better than joining a stadium full of Buckeye fans jonsin for a good tailgate party and in the last gasps of the long stretch between seasons. If you really want to make a day of if, ESPN is replaying the 2003 fiesta bowl later in the day.

I’m afraid I’m going to miss it but if anyone goes, please, let me know if it amounts to anything. Heck, send me a picture or two and I’ll put them up.

Update
I’m looking for a report. Did anyone actually go? If so, plesae drop a comment.

And while yes, I’m famous on this blog for spelling and other minor errors, this one wasn’t mine.

Read the complete press release beneath the fold.
Read the rest of this entry »

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Big Ten Network will only broadcast three Ohio State games this season as opposed to last year’s four. Personally, I think this is a good thing as I have no chance of seeing the BTN offered on Verizon in Maryland. Likewise, the majority of fans in Ohio can’t get the Big Ten Network either.

So, as it stands right now, Youngstown State (to which luckily, along with the other 70 percent of the alumini, I scored tickets), Troy and one league game will be broadcast on the BTN. ESPN owns Ohio University and don’t worry about the USC game. ABC’s got it and I’m sure it will be available no matter where you live. It will be the premier non-conference game of the season.

So for now, I’ll tolerate the BTN. I don’t know which Big 10 game they’ve got but let’s just hope it’s a game I have to miss for some other reason (although I can’t think of any reason that would force me to miss an Ohio State Game).